Avian influenza: expectations surpassed as
international community pledges USD 1.9 bn in Beijing

The international community has pledged a total amount of $1.9 billion
dollars to fight avian influenza and prepare for a possible human influenza
pandemic, EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou
announced today in his concluding speech at the International Ministerial
Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza in Beijing, China.
The European Commission co-sponsored the conference with the government of the
People’s Republic of China and the World Bank. On behalf of the European
Commission and in particular Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner, Michel and Potocnik,
Commissioner Kyprianou pledged €80 million ($100 m) in aid grants from the
Commission’s External Relations budget and the European Development Fund
and committed €20 million in research funds for avian influenza from
EU’s 6th Research Framework Programme.

Commissioner Kyprianou said: “Today at the conclusion of the Beijing
International Pledging Conference, I am glad to announce that the total amount
pledged by the International Community amounts to 1.9 billion US Dollars. This
is a significant achievement we all can be proud of. We have surpassed
expectations by considerably exceeding the estimated overall financing gap of
around $1.2 billion, 1 billion of which is in grants. For its part, the European
Commission has played a central role both as a co-host of this conference, and
with a total pledge of €100 million ($122 million). Taken together with
the €114 million ($140 m) pledged by the EU Member States, the EU has in
total pledged around €214 million ($260 m).”

Of the €80 million pledged by the European Commission to third
countries, €30 million is destined for Asia, €5 million for Central
Asia, €5 million for the EU’s Eastern European neighbouring
countries, €10 million for North Africa and the Middle East, and €30
million is earmarked for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries, subject
to approval by the ACP countries. With the €20 million of research funds
earmarked from the 6th Research Framework Programme, this brings the
total European Commission pledge to €100 million. Separately, the European
Commission is preparing to bring forward urgently €4 million in
pre-accession aid to Turkey foreseen for 2007 to tackle avian influenza.